Fall 2016 music festivals

If you’re planning to hit any fall 2016 music festivals, get ready for it! Music festivals are one of the best ways to see all your favorite bands, meet new people, indulge in great food and make new memories.

The key to having an awesome music festival experience is to be prepared! Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of music festival essentials to help you figure out what to wear, what to pack and how to get ready for the big event.

Check out this music festival survival guide before you head off for the weekend of a lifetime.

What to wear

Unlike Coachella, Lollapalooza and other sweltering hot summer music festivals, you’ll be dealing with much cooler weather in the fall season.

Ladies, you can still channel a Bohemian vibe by incorporating a printed kimono or a sun hat into your outfits. But unless you want to be spending the majority of your time feeling cold and miserable — leave the crop tops at home.

Gents, try throwing on a light flannel or a beanie for added warmth. Layering is key. That way, when you’re jumping around in the dance tent, you can easily strip off that extra layer to stay cool.

And the No. 1 rule for both males and females is to make sure you have comfortable shoes. Flat-soled sneakers like Vans and Converse will be your best friends after a long day of dancing and running from stage to stage.

What to pack

We’re sure you’ve got the basics covered (i.e., your ticket/wristband, your phone and some extra cash), but here are a few other music festival essentials that you won’t want to be without:

Sunscreen

When you’re dancing around in the sun all day long, sunscreen with a high SPF is a must. Don’t even think about skipping this one. If you do, chances are you’ll be sporting a gnarly sunburn at work or school the next day.

Cheap sunglasses

Music festivals are not the occasion to bust out your favorite pair of designer sunglasses. If you’re planning to do any crowd-surfing (or even if you’re just trying to make your way up to the front of a crowd), there’s a good chance that they’ll get broken or lost.

Reusable water bottle

Remember, dehydration is a real thing. If festival rules allow for it, bring along a reusable water bottle and make sure to find out where all the refilling stations are ahead of time. Your body will thank you for it.

Hand sanitizer/wet wipes

Porta-potties … enough said.

Portable charger

Between Instagramming every memorable moment and Snapchatting your favorite music acts, there’s a very strong chance that your phone will run out of juice. A portable charger will be a life-saver, especially if you ever get separated from your friends.

Wireless speakers

If you’re planning to camp overnight at the music festival, you’ll want to make sure you have wireless speakers at your campsite to keep the party going. For the ultimate listening experience, check out SONY’s Ultra Premium Hi-Res Bluetooth Speaker and treat your ears to crisp, clear, high-res quality sound. You’ll be surprised to hear how close the music sounds to the live performance.

How to prep

Plan your day around which artists you want to see.

Create a schedule or download the festival’s app on your phone a couple days in advance. You’ll probably have a few scheduling conflicts and will end up having to miss a few performances, but planning ahead will help you take full advantage of the time you have.

Get a hard copy of your friends’ phone numbers.

Before you get to the venue, make sure to write down all of your friends’ numbers on a piece of paper that you can tuck into your wallet. That way, if your phone dies half-way through the day and you have to borrow someone else’s, you’ll know how to get a hold of your crew.

Arrange a meeting point.

It’s inevitable that you’ll get separated from your group at some point during the festival. Since cellphone coverage can be spotty, set up a designated location to reconvene with your friends after the set is over..

Make a music playlist ahead of time.

It’s the perfect way to familiarize yourself with who will be performing at the festival. And be sure to check out the “lesser-known” acts on the lineup too! Music festivals provide a great opportunity to discover new artists.